"There was a single tender": R Ashoka alleges Rs 20 crore voter ID card scam in Karnataka

Ashoka questioned the timing of the state government's decision to print voter ID cards after the Election Commission of India announced the SIR exercise. He alleged that the state government and the State Election Commission invited tenders a day after the national poll body announced the exercise on May 14.

In Karnataka, a scandal involving more than Rs 20 crore has taken place over state voter ID cards. The Karnataka government released funds worth Rs 20 crore to issue state voter ID cards for the corporation elections, Ashoka said.

Questioning the need for separate voter ID cards, Ashoka said the Election Commission of India had already issued voter ID cards to citizens. He alleged that the state government sanctioned Rs 20 crore and issued a tender without following the prescribed procedures.

There was a single tender, and the cards were printed immediately, he said.

Ashoka also raised questions about the process followed to print the cards. He claimed that election rules required officials to visit voters, verify their identities, take photographs and then print the cards. However, he alleged that no such verification was conducted before 90 lakh cards were printed.

Citing figures that he said were reflected in the voter list announced after the SIR exercise, Ashoka claimed that the list showed only 59 lakh voters, leaving a difference of 31 lakh between the number of voters and the number of cards printed.

Now, in the SIR, the voter list announced yesterday shows only 59 lakh voters. You have already printed 90 lakh cards. What about the voter ID cards for the remaining 31 lakh voters? he asked.

Ashoka further questioned the whereabouts of the excess cards, alleging that they had already been printed and sent to the corporation for distribution four months earlier. He demanded that the government clarify their current status and explain how they would be distributed after the SIR exercise.

There are only approximately 60 lakh voters in Bengaluru, but you have printed 90 lakh cards. What about the remaining 30 lakh cards? This is a big question, he said.

Making a further allegation, Ashoka said, It is fake. I think they have 100 per cent printed fake cards. He challenged Chief Minister D K Shivakumar to select a constituency and distribute the cards to demonstrate their validity.

He further targeted Shivakumar by accusing him of being responsible for alleged electoral irregularities in Karnataka. Referring to the state government's planned protest in Delhi on November 1 over alleged vote theft, Ashoka said, You are alleging vote chori in Delhi, but in Karnataka, the main person behind vote chori is D K Shivakumar.

Ashoka also referred to an affidavit submitted by the state government in the Supreme Court, which he said stated that elections would be held based on the voter list prepared after the SIR exercise. He questioned why the government proceeded with the tender and printing process despite that position.

This is a waste of government money, Rs 20 crore, and it is a big scandal, he said.

Arguing that the expenditure came at a time when the government had expressed concerns about the state's financial position, Ashoka said the amount represented a significant waste of public funds.

This is public money. Rs 20 crore is not a small amount. It is a big amount, and you have wasted public money, he said.

Ashoka also referred to remarks made at a farmers' meeting about the state treasury's financial condition, questioning why the government had spent Rs 20 crore on the voter ID cards.

Concluding his statement, Ashoka alleged that the government had failed to manage the state's administration and finances effectively. He reiterated his demand for a CBI investigation into the printing and distribution of the cards.

So, I think this government has failed to rule the state and handle the Finance Department. This matter must be handed over to the CBI. I demand this from the government, he said. (ANI)